Dear
liberal Muslim, I address
this open letter to all of you who profess a tolerant and peaceful Islam; who
have no wish to impose their religious views on others; who are prepared to
live in peace with Christians, atheists, Hindus and Jews; who endorse the
bedrock principles of a secular democracy, including the separation of religion
and state, freedom of expression, and universal human rights. As all of
us, you have watched with horror at the events unfolding in Syria and Iraq. For
you, perhaps, witnessing the brutalities
of the group called ISIS is even more unnerving, as they are being carried out
in the name of your faith. Like any decent human being, however, you feel
nothing but revulsion for these atrocities. Perhaps you felt a sense of relief
when spokesmen of your community publicly denounced ISIS, a group that is
tarnishing the public image of your religion. These courageous Muslims will no
longer be cowed by …